Bears and Fires
August 10, 2026
As of this writing there are two things you should be aware of as you plan to visit us:
Fires
The Summerland Fire is in the news and thousands of people and livestock are or have been evacuated. This fire does not threaten us. It’s in a different valley hundreds of kilometres to the southwest. This does not mean there isn’t a fire hazard. Conditions here are dry again this summer.
There is a fire ban on. No campfires or any open fires of any kind are allowed. BBQs, gas stoves, and the like are still permitted.
The smoke, however, is a bit thick. If you have a medical condition (asthma, for example), you might want to check current conditions. Although I’m not sure where in North American you’d be safe right now.
Current conditions and smoke forecasts can be found at (search on “Spillimacheen“):
https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map
Bears
We had visits from three different bears yesterday. This is very unusual. We usually have one or two sightings a year. Three on the property in one day is remarkable.
This time of year they have become hyperphagic. Their bodies have turned on the “I’m hungry” signal all the time. They eat up to 22 hours a day, and put on about to two kilos (four pounds) a day, until hibernation.
What this means to you:
Bears typically don’t want anything to do with humans, or their dogs. If you give them a chance to avoid you, they will. Here are some things you can do to keep yourself and your group safer:
Practise good food hygiene –
Do not leave food outside. Do not store food outside or in your tent. If you cook outside, clean up immediately afterwards. Do not leave food garbage outside. Do not leave food prep gear outside, including your stove. Anything that has come in contact with food has to be properly stored even after it’s been cleaned.
Problem bears are those who have learned to associate people with food. Practising good food hygiene means this won’t happen in the first place. Wild bears are only a danger if you are seen as a threat to their cubs or between them and their food (a deer carcass, for example).
Keep your dogs leashed –
Even if your dog has 100% perfect recall, that’s not going to help you if the bear decides it’s a threat and chases Fido back to where you are. Also, as slow and cute as bears look when they’re walking, they can run 50 kph (30 mph), definitely faster then you. Downhill does not slow them.
Your dog doesn’t have to run faster than the bear to escape. It just has to run faster than you.
Travel safely –
Yes, carry bear bells, bear spray, an air horn and/or bear bangers (pen flare). Most bear sprays have a stated range out to ten metres, and an effective range of about five metres (or sixteen feet). Depending of the can size you’ll get five to ten seconds of continuous spray. That’s two or three short bursts — not a lot.
If a bear is that close, you’ve probably already made several errors in judgment.
Travel in groups of two or more, even short distances like going to the bathroom, especially at night. Look up and take the earbuds out. Make noise or sing so the bear knows where you are and can avoid you (they’ll see, hear or smell you first most of the time).
Situational awareness is your friend.